The global community’s failure to adequately recognise India’s transition towards becoming a Hindu Rashtra is endangering peace and stability not only in South Asia but around the world, according to retired Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
“Many countries are downplaying the emergence of India as a Hindu Rashtra, which carries serious implications for peace and stability in South Asia and beyond,” he remarked at the opening of the 9th workshop on strategic stability organised by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in collaboration with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London, according to a press release.
The workshop delved into contemporary issues affecting global and regional strategic stability with a particular focus on the consequences of emerging disruptive technologies.
Highlighting India’s aggressive stance, Gen Zubair pointed out its deployment of sophisticated hybrid warfare tactics, underlined by a posture of strategic autonomy alongside managing the fastest growing nuclear programme globally.
Former Director General Strategic Plans Division (SPD) retired Lt Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj addressed evolving international geopolitical scene moving towards a multi-polar world marked by intense power rivalries potentially leading to conflicts.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to full spectrum deterrence (FSD), which remains in line with the concept of credible minimum deterrence (CMD).
CISS Executive Director Amb Ali Sarwar Naqvi emphasised the urgent need for more effective dialogue and diplomacy to overcome increasing mistrust and a lack of cooperation among the world’s powers, a situation exacerbated by new technological developments.
The IISS delegation was led by Antoine Levesques with significant contributions from Desmond Bowen, Ben Barry, William Alberque, Julia Voo and Timothy Wright. The workshop also featured talks from Ambassador Zamir Akram, Dr Zafar Khan, Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Dr Rizwana Abbasi and Dr Waseem Qutab.
